New Port Richey woman jailed after toddler went wandering

NEW PORT RICHEY — A 22-year-old woman was arrested Monday after an 18-month-old child was found wandering the streets, dirty and wearing a "severely soiled diaper," police said.

A passerby saw the toddler about 12:15 p.m. on a sidewalk near Madison Street and Indiana Avenue, according to a police report. As that person called police, authorities said, Judith Robinson came outside and tried to take the child with her. Robinson then got into an argument with the passerby and bit that person's nephew, police said.

Police said Robinson slurred her words as she told them the toddler had slipped out of her home at 5919 Pennsylvania Ave. while she was sleeping. A urine test revealed narcotics in her system, the report said.

Robinson was charged with child neglect because police say she failed to care for the toddler, as well as child abuse because police say she bit the nephew of the passerby. She remained Tuesday at the Land O'Lakes jail in lieu of $15,000 bail.

The child, whose relationship to Robinson was not disclosed, was taken into protective custody.